Bordeaux Flashcards
What’s the location and geography of Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is located in the southwest portion of France inland from the Atlantic ocean. The climate is Maritime and is moderated by the water is in its proximity to the Atlantic coast. A large pine forest along the Atlantic coast protects Bordeaux from storms. The Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet north of the city of Bordeaux and flow into the Atlantic. The grape varieties grown in Bordeaux are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and small quantities of Muscadelle for white grapes. The red grapes are merlow, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet, Frank, and very small quantities of petite Verde, Malbec and Carmenere. Merlot is the most widely planted great.
What is the vinification of the wines in Bordeaux?
Most wines from Bordeaux are blends of two more grape varieties in the Bordeaux family. Left bank blends from medoc are typically 70% Cabernet Sauvignon in 30% Merlot. Red wines from saint emillon are typically 70% merlot and 30% Cabernet franc. dry white wines from Graves are typically 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. Sweet wines from Sauternes our typically 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc.
What are the Bordeaux Appalachians or qualities of wine?
Most common is Bordeaux AOP. Grapes can come from anywhere in the region and is the largest Appalachian and size in production. Sub region or district Appalachians are the second and maybe the highest attainable in particular locals. Compilations are the smallest AOP in Bordeaux with generally the highest quality wine. Aging wine in new Oak barrels is a typical practice in Bordeaux.
What is the château concept in Bordeaux?
Most vineyards in Bordeaux are not known by the plot of land or the city as they are in burgundy and other French growing regions. Instead, Beau vineyards are known by the names of château.
What are the regions of Bordeaux?
On the left bank, there is Medoc, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers. On the right bank there is Saint Emilion and Pomerro
Describe the Medoc Bordeau. List, geography, soil, grapes, etc..
Medoc is Bordeaux most renown red wine area. It was a salt marsh and pine forest until Dutch engineers drained the marshes in the 17th century and discovered beds of gravel. This would become the home of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in France. It’s located on the north part of the city of Bordeaux with a gravel soil perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The great varieties there are Cabernet Sauvignon and blends, but it is red wine only. Some of the famous sub regions are Haute-Medoc, Pauillac and Margaux.
What is the 1855 classification?
A classification of the top Bordeaux château commissioned by Napoleon the third in 1855. They were only left bank commune except for one property engraves south of Medoc, which was château Haut-Brion. The top or first growth château, of the 1855 classification are Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut-Brion.
Describe the Graves wine area.
Graves is south of Medoc around the city of Bordeaux. The soil is gravel and the grape varieties are Sauvignon blanc and Semillon for white and red is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet franc. The vinification is typically dry, white wines, dry, red wines, and the use of new French oak.
Describe the Entre-Deux-Mers AOP.
This translates to land between the seas where the soil is very fertile. The grape varieties are white, mostly which is Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. the vinification is dry white wines only with little to no oak used, mostly stainless steel.
What are the two regions of the right bank?
Saint-Emillon and Pomerol.
Describe Saint Emillon AOP.
It is located along the Dordogne River with soil being silt, clay, and gravel and limestone plateau. Grape varieties are low, Cabernet franc. The classification is grands cruc classe, which is the most common, premier grands crus classe b, and premiers grands crus class A which is the best.
Describe Pomerol AOP
The smallest of the Bordeaux Appalachian with the soil of sand, clay and gravel with a subsoil of iron pan in rich clay. Red wine only is grown there, and it is typically Merlot and Cabernet-Franc blends.
